by M. S. Parker
I was starting to imagine all of the various ways I wanted to hurt him when the door to Nami's bedroom opened. I froze. Just because I was expecting it to be Nami didn't mean it would be. A moment later, I let out the breath I was holding. Nami smiled at me as she came into the darkened room. Behind her was a young woman who looked so much like Nami's mother that I could see what the queen had looked like as a teenager.
“Halea,” Nami said softly. “This is Reed Stirling. He's going to get us out of here.”
Halea's face was pale, but I could see the same steel in her that I'd seen in Nami. The girl held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I shook her hand and then turned to Nami. “Did anyone see you?”
“No,” she said. “Not as far as I know.” She glanced at her watch. “But we need to go before someone realizes we're missing.” She walked past me towards the outside door. “I'll go first.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she gave me one of those looks that I knew she'd use when on official business.
“I'll check to see if anyone's out there. There'll be questions, but I'm not a stranger,” she said. “Halea follows me and you come behind her to make sure she's safe.”
I glanced at Halea, wondering just how much Nami had told her sister about why we were sneaking away. Judging by the stubborn set to Halea's jaw, it had been enough to convince her. I just hoped Nami had spared Halea the details. I couldn't imagine how guilty she'd feel if she knew Nami had stayed with Tanek to protect her.
Nami opened the door slowly and peered out through the crack. After a moment, she opened it wider and stepped outside. A few seconds ticked by and she motioned for us to follow. We stuck to the shadows as we went, but most of the guards seemed to be centered around the front of the palace. A few were patrolling along the fence, but they were easily avoided. When we reached the gate, however, we encountered a different problem.
The gate was closed. Before, I'd just waited until someone had needed to use it before sneaking in. That wasn't an option right now though. There were three of us and, any moment, someone could realize that the girls were gone.
We needed another option.
“I'll get him out of the booth,” I said softly. “You two open the gate and get out. I'll follow as soon as I can.”
To my surprise, Nami rolled her eyes. The gesture seemed so casual, especially considering our present circumstances, that it almost made me laugh.
“I thought we might need a distraction,” she said. She held up a hand-held radio.
There was a hint of a smile on her lips and I felt a wave of relief go through me. I'd been worried that I would lose her to what had happened, but now I could see that she was still in there. We could get through this.
She pressed down on the button and said something in her native language. I caught 'Namisa' and that was about it. Before I could ask her, Halea spoke in a soft voice, her English as perfect as her sister's, though her accent was thicker. Nami had spent a few years in America recently.
“She asked for the name of the guard at the security booth and then told him that she did not receive a package she was expecting. She is telling him now to go look at the end of the street to see if it was left there.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
This had to be completely disconcerting for the poor girl. One minute, her life is fairly normal, and the next, she finds out that her sister's being abused and they have to leave with someone she doesn't know, going somewhere unknown.
I didn't have much more time for speculation as I heard the gate creak open. The security guard in the booth was walking towards it. Nami held up her hand, cautioning us to wait. It was funny. I'd thought I was coming to rescue her and now she was the one responsible for actually getting us off the grounds. Then she glanced back at me and I saw the fear in her eyes. She was absolutely petrified that this wouldn’t work, and I didn't need her to tell me to know that the only thing keeping her together was Halea.
Nami took a few steps out of the shadows and looked around before gesturing for us to follow. Halea and I followed Nami over to the gate and then out. Instead of turning towards the street, however, Nami turned the other way. As we went, I remembered Halea saying that Nami had sent the guard to the street to look for her non-existent package. Smart.
Nami led us down another side-street and then back up to the street that ran in front of the palace. As soon as we reached it, she stopped and turned to me.
“Where to now?”
Her voice was strong, but I could see the weight of it all in her eyes. I reached out and took her hand. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her, tell her everything would be okay. I couldn't do that with her sister here, not without making Halea either embarrassed or nervous. I didn't know how much Nami had told her about me, after all. Instead, I settled for squeezing her hand and letting her see on my face that I was taking over. She didn't have to be strong anymore. I saw the relief on her face, but she hid it quickly. She would still be strong as long as Halea could see her.
“We're going back to my hotel,” I said. “This way.”
I hated the idea of making the women walk, especially since both of them were wearing shoes that were more conducive for walking around a palace rather than walking down the sidewalk, but Saja was a small country and their royal family well-known. No one on the island would not recognize either princess. We couldn't take that risk. At least walking, they could keep to the shadows.
When we arrived at the hotel, I put myself between the desk clerk and the women, advising them to turn their faces away as we came in. I supposed the clerk would think I was bringing prostitutes back to my room, but as long as he didn't realize who Nami and Halea were, I was fine with that. My reputation wasn't exactly foremost on my mind at the moment.
Halea's and Nami's reputations, however, were my concern.
“Bathroom's right there.” I pointed. “Bedroom's through that door. You two can share it. I have some clothes in there you can use until tomorrow.”
Halea and Nami exchanged one of those sibling looks. I didn't know what they communicated in their silence, but after a minute, without a word, Halea walked into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, Nami turned to me. I took one step towards her, my arms open, and she fell into them.
“Thank you.” The words were muffled as she buried her face against my chest. I felt the tension flow out of her body and she sagged against me. “Thank you for saving her. For saving me.”
“Always,” I promised.
I wanted nothing more than to keep her in my arms, take her into the bedroom and make love to her until every bad memory was banished from her mind. But I knew it wasn't only Halea keeping me from doing that. I loved Nami and I wanted her, but I would let her initiate all physical contact. I would do whatever it took to make her feel safe again.
“Sleep tonight, my love.” I smoothed down her curls. “You're safe here.”
I had Nami bring me out a pair of shorts and waited until the sisters were in the bedroom with the door closed before I went into the bathroom and changed. I left the light on and the door cracked so that if either one needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, they would be able to see that I was still asleep on the couch.
I wasn't sure when I'd ended up falling asleep, but the soft shuffle of feet on carpet woke me some time later. I looked up to see Nami standing at the end of the couch. I sat up, immediately looking around for the threat.
“What's wrong?” I pitched my voice low, not wanting to alarm Halea if she wasn't already awake.
Nami walked around to the side of the couch and I could see now that she was wearing one of my t-shirts. It hung down to mid-thigh, nearly as long as some dresses I'd seen. My stomach tightened as I wondered what she was wearing underneath. I immediately pushed the thought away before my body could respond even more than it already was.
“Nami.” I started
to sit up, but she shook her head. “What...?”
Whatever question I'd intended to ask was lost as Nami pulled my blanket off and dropped it on the floor. I swore softly as she straddled my waist, her hand hot on my stomach as she steadied herself.
“You don't have to...” I groaned as she grasped my cock through my shorts.
“Please.” Her voice was soft. “I need to remember that it can be good.”
My heart twisted at her words and I felt a surge of hate for Tanek, for what he'd done to the woman I loved.
Suddenly, she moved her hand and turned her face away. “I understand,” she said, her voice empty. “I am not...”
I sat up so quickly she gasped, losing the rest of her sentence.
“Don't.” The word came out harsher than I'd intended and even in the low light, I saw her flinch and hated myself for it. I softened my voice and cupped her face as gently as I could. “I want you so badly,” I confessed. “But I don't want to hurt you.”
She let her weight settle more firmly on my lap and I knew she could feel my cock hardening against her ass. Her eyes locked with mine and she slid her hand across my chest. I put my hands on her hips, fighting the urge to take control. I'd told her the truth, but mere words weren't enough to convey the depth of what I felt for her.
“I need you inside me.” Her nails scraped across my nipples and I hissed. “Do you need...?”
She didn't need to finish the sentence. I knew what she wanted. I wanted it too. I shook my head. “What about...?”
Her face hardened for a moment. “The one thing I can say is that even if he has been with others, he would not dare risk the health of a possible child. He's healthy and has been faithful.” The last word held more venom than I'd realized she could possess.
I reached up to run my fingers down along Nami's cheek. “Are you sure? I would never ask you to do something you don't want.”
She flexed her hand, digging her nails into my chest. “I want.”
There was a ferocity in those two words that sent blood rushing to my cock so fast that it almost hurt. She leaned forward and our mouths crashed together hard enough to bruise. She pushed her tongue between my lips and my hands bunched the fabric of my t-shirt. I wanted to feel her skin so badly that my hands were shaking.
I broke the kiss, my chest tight. “I need to know...”
She froze in my arms.
“I need you to tell me what to do.” I kissed her jaw and she relaxed. I looked at her and realized what she'd thought I was going to ask. “I will never ask you to re-live any of that,” I said, tucking a curl behind her ear. “I'll be an ear if you need one, but will never ask.”
She nodded.
“Now.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “Tell me how you want me.”
“On top.”
My eyebrows went up at that. I'd thought for sure she would want to be in control. Not that I would complain. I didn't care how she wanted me, only that she did. “Are you sure?”
She nodded.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and managed to turn us over without either one of us falling off the couch. As I settled between her legs, I slid one hand up over her thigh and hip, venturing under the t-shirt to answer my previous unspoken question. My hand found nothing but skin beneath the cotton.
Nami's hands pushed at the waistband of my shorts and I could feel the shift in the air between us. There was an urgency now that hadn't been there before. An edge of desperation to the need that we both had.
“Inside me.” Nami's breath was hot against my ear. Her hand slid around my hip and wrapped around my cock. “Now.”
I covered her breast with my hand even as I surged forward, burying myself inside her. Her back arched and I saw her bite her bottom lip to muffle her cry. My entire body shook with the effort to stay quiet. I rested my forehead against hers for a moment, struggling for control.
“I love you,” I whispered. My hand tightened around her breast.
“Then love me.” She rested her heels against the back of my knees.
This wasn't the tender, gentle love-making I'd imagined she would want. This was something deeper and our bodies moved against each other with an almost primal need. My fingers moved beneath her t-shirt, rolling and tugging on her nipple as soft, whimpering sounds fell from her lips, mingling with my own harsh breathing.
It wasn't long before she began to gasp and moan, the sounds of pleasure that I'd been dreaming about. I could feel my own climax coming and fought it, determined to feel her come around me before I let go. I leaned down and pressed my face against her neck. As I nipped at her throat, her nails dug into my shoulders and we came together, her pussy tightening around my cock as it pulsed inside her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I could feel hot tears against my skin as Nami held me to her. I hated the circumstances that had brought us back together, hated what had happened, but I loved having her back in my arms. For her, I'd thought I'd left behind my home, but I knew now that wasn't the case. She was my home.
Chapter 7
Reed
I was deep in the best sleep I'd had in weeks when a loud bang jerked me out of it. For a brief moment, I couldn't remember where I was or what was going on, but then I saw the men coming into the room and immediately reacted.
I rolled off of the couch, hearing Nami make a noise but not looking at her. She was safe at the moment and I had to keep her that way. I needed to get between her and the men. I barely even registered the fact that I was naked.
It was only after a few seconds that I realized the men were cops and they had guns pointed at me. I automatically put my hands up, but I didn't move from my place in front of Nami.
I heard her suck in a breath as Tanek came into the room and it was only knowing that I was shielding her that kept me from going after him.
“Down on your knees!” one of the cops shouted.
“Not until he leaves.” I jerked my chin at Tanek. “You get him out of here, keep him away and then I'll get on my knees.”
I wasn't sure where things would've gone from there because the bedroom door opened and Halea stepped into the room. Before I could move or speak, Tanek was there, grabbing Halea and pulling her towards him.
As soon as I heard him speak, I knew what he'd done.
“Please tell me he did not harm you as well, dearest.”
My jaw dropped, my attention caught for a split second, just long enough for the cops to move. As I was thrown to the ground, my arms yanked behind my back, I managed to get out a question. “What are the charges?”
“Kidnapping.” The cop jerked on my wrist and a sharp pain shot up my arm.
“And rape.”
Tanek's voice cut through the chaos and I heard Nami gasp at his words.
“I am so sorry, my darling,” Tanek continued. “That I did not arrive in time to stop him.”
One of Tanek’s personal guards came into the room and Tanek pushed Haley toward him. “Bring this innocent child to the car and wait for us. She shouldn’t witness this horrible crime scene.”
As soon as they’d left, I was pulled to my feet and one of the cops grabbed my shorts from the ground, roughly forcing me into them. Nami was on her feet now, the blanket wrapped around her. Her face was pale and I could see the panic on her face. She didn't know what to do.
“It's okay. Let me handle this.” I mouthed the words and prayed she would understand them.
I didn't want her to think that I expected her to refute the charges, or that I would be hurt that she didn't tell the truth. I knew why she had to stay silent. I didn't want Halea in Tanek's custody any more than she did, and if it meant that my reputation had to suffer for a little while, then that was a sacrifice I was more than willing to make.
Her eyes met mine and I saw the pain in them. She understood, but it didn't make her hurt any less. My own heart twisted inside me and I wanted to go to her, wrap my arms around her, take her pain away. I hated seeing her
this way and I hated even more that I had to leave her, but my only other option was to put Halea at risk and, as much as I loved Nami, I couldn't do it. In fact, it was because I loved Nami that I couldn't speak the truth.
If it had been Nami's honor at stake, I would've kept myself quiet and waited until we could come before the king and queen to set things straight. With Halea being in Tanek’s custody, however, Nami was at his mercy and I knew that we didn't have time. Once he had them alone, he would most likely release Halea, but I knew he would take out his anger on Nami.
I pushed the thought aside as the cops started to drag me toward the door. I couldn't think about what Tanek might do. If I did, I wouldn't be able to think straight. It would be a toss-up between trying to kill someone and trying not to throw up. Neither one would help Nami.
I kept my eyes on her as long as I could, forcing the cops to physically pull me from the room. I didn't care about how my arms were hurting where they gripped me or how my shoulders felt like they were going to be pulled out of their sockets. I didn't care about the people staring at me as I finally began to walk down the hall.
My head was swimming, thoughts racing. I couldn't get them in any order, couldn't make sense of them. And yet I knew I needed to focus. I had to figure out how to get out of this and save both Nami and Halea. At the moment, though, the only thing that was clear to me was that I'd failed them; I'd failed her.
Chapter 8
Nami
This couldn't be happening. It had to be some awful dream, some nightmare that I couldn't seem to wake up from. I'd been dreaming about the events of last night, reliving every wonderful moment from my reunion with Reed in the garden to falling asleep in his arms after we'd made love. And then I'd heard a loud bang and jerked out of my lovely dream to the horror that unfolded in rapid-fire images that I couldn't stop.